Alstroemeria plant named ‘Tesima’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Tesima’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; sturdy and strong plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit and relatively short internodes; dense and bushy appearance; large and numerous white and red purple-colored flowers held above the foliar plane on relatively short flower pedicels; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TESIMA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, growntypically as a potted garden Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Tesima’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new freely-floweringpotted garden Alstroemeria plants with uniform plant habit andattractive flower coloration.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in April, 2005 of aproprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code numberPD8030x006, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code numberPC507, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newAlstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inHeerhugowaard, The Netherlands in February, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by root divisions ina controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlandssince April, 2006 has shown that the unique features of this newAlstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Tesima’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Tesima’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeriaplant:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded        plant habit.    -   2. Sturdy and strong plant form; moderately vigorous growth        habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit and relatively short internodes; dense        and bushy appearance.    -   4. Large and numerous white and red purple-colored flowers held        above the foliar plane on relatively short flower pedicels.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants ofthe female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have shorter flower pedicels        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the female parent        selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent        selection have violet and white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have larger leaves than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have pink and white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of theAlstroemeria hybrida ‘Tesmach’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,266.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Alstroemeria differprimarily from plants of ‘Tesmach’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have larger leaves than plants        of ‘Tesmach’.    -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Tesmach’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Tesmach’ have red purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Alstroemeria plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Tesima’ grown in acontainer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria plant grown duringthe winter and early spring in four-liter containers in a glass-coveredgreenhouse in Kudelstaart, The Netherlands. During the production of theplants, day and night temperatures averaged 12° C. and light levelsaveraged 7,000 lux. Plants were 21 weeks old when the photograph anddescription were taken. Color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Tesima’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number PD8030x006,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number PC507, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By root divisions.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About seven            weeks at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About eight            weeks at 16° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and fleshy; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.        -   Rhizome length.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Rhizome diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Rhizome texture.—Smooth.        -   Rhizome color.—Close to 195A to 195B.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright,            somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant            habit; broad inverted triangle; freely branching habit with            about 28 primary lateral branches developing per plant;            relatively short internodes, dense and bushy appearance;            sturdy and strong plant form; moderately vigorous growth            habit.        -   Plant height.—About 27 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 39.5 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Aspect.—Mostly upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.        -   Length.—About 16.9 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; waxy cuticle.        -   Color.—Close to 144A to 144B; waxy cuticle, close to 145A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncles in a single            whorl; simple.        -   Length.—About 4.7 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate; twisting.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Facing downward,            close to 138A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Facing            upright, close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: Facing downward, between N138B and N189A; venation,            close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Facing            upright, close to N137D; venation, close to 143A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.9 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Color:            Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single zygomorphic flowers arranged            in compound umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly to            upright; perianth segments separate; freely flowering habit            with about nine flowers developing per inflorescence and            about 250 flowers developing per plant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about eight            weeks after planting; flowering continuous from summer into            the autumn in The Netherlands.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not            persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.            Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 145A; distally tinged with            close to 152A; apex, close to 139B.        -   Umbel height.—About 10.1 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 13.3 cm.        -   Flower diameter (horizontal).—About 6.8 cm.        -   Flower length (vertical).—About 7.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 7.2 cm.        -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six segments arranged in two whorls,            each whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size,            inner perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 7 cm. Width,            lateral segments: About 2.2 cm. Length, median segments:            About 6.2 cm. Width, median segments: About 2.4 cm. Size,            outer perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 6.5 cm.            Width, lateral segments: About 3.6 cm. Length, median            segments: About 6.9 cm. Width, median segments: About            3.6 cm. Shape, inner perianth, lateral and median segments:            Oblanceolate. Shape, outer perianth, lateral and median            segments: Obovate. Apex, inner perianth, lateral and median            segments: Abruptly acute. Apex, outer perianth, lateral and            median segments: Emarginate with a small embedded acute            apex. Base, inner perianth, lateral and median segments:            Narrowly cuneate. Base, outer perianth, lateral and median            segments: Long cuneate. Margin, inner perianth, lateral and            median segments: Entire. Margin, outer perianth, lateral and            median segments: Towards the apex, finely serrate; towards            the base, entire. Texture, inner and outer perianths,            lateral and median segments: Smooth, glabrous; slightly            velvety. Color, inner perianth: When opening, lateral            segments, upper surface: Close to 157C to 157D; towards the            apex, close to 63B; apex, close to 147B; towards the base,            close to 62C to 62D; spots, between N186C and 200A. When            opening, median segments, upper surface: Close to 65D;            towards the apex, close to 60D; apex and main vein, close to            144A; central spot, close to 59C. When opening, lateral            segments, lower surface: Close to 157B; towards the apex,            close to 63B; apex, close to 147B; towards the base, close            to 62C to 62D; spots, close to 148C. When opening, median            segments, lower surface: Close to 65C; towards the apex,            close to N57C; apex and main vein, close to 144A; central            spot, close to 59D. Fully opened, lateral segments, upper            surface: Close to NN155B; towards the apex, close to 63B;            central spot, close to 61B; towards the base, close to 62C;            spots, between N186C and 200A. Fully opened, median            segments, upper surface: Close to N57C; towards the apex,            close to 63B; central spot, close to 58B; towards the base,            close to 62C. Fully opened, lateral segments, lower surface:            Close to NN155C; towards the apex, close to 63B; apex and            main vein, close to 144A; central spot, close to 53C;            towards the base, close to 62B; spots, close to 201C to            201D. Fully opened, median segments, lower surface: Close to            64D; central spot, close to 53C; apex and main vein, close            to 144B; towards the base, close to 65A. Color, outer            perianth: When opening, lateral and median segments, upper            surface: Close to N57C; apex, close to 147B; central spot,            close to 63B; towards the base, close to 62D. When opening,            lateral segments, lower surface: Close to N57C; apex, close            to 147A; central spot, between 143A and 144D; towards the            base, close to 58D. When opening, median segments, lower            surface: Close to N57C; apex, close to 147A; venation, close            to 143A; towards the base, close to 58D. Fully opened,            lateral and median segments, upper surface: Close to 63B;            apex, close to 141C; central spot, close to 58B; towards the            base, close to 62A to 62B. Fully opened, lateral and median            segments, lower surface: Close to 63B; apex, close to 141B;            central spot, close to 53C; towards the base, close to 63C;            venation, close to 143A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: About 20° from vertical.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous; waxy cuticle. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 144A to 144B; waxy cuticle, close            to 145A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.            Filament length: About 3.8 cm. Filament color: Close to 58D.            Anther shape: Reniform. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            color: Close to 152B to 152C. Pollen amount: Moderate.            Pollen color: Close to 197C to 197D. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: One. Pistil length: About 4 cm. Style length: About            3.6 cm. Style color: Close to 64D. Stigma shape: Tri-parted;            parts, club-shaped, curved. Stigma color: Close to 63B.            Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been            observed on plants of the new Alstroemeria.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Alstroemeria plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain,    high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness    Zone 8.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Tesima’as illustrated and described.